Before the season begins, the Seahawks will have to name their starting quarterback. Prior to the draft, it looked like it would be between Tarvaris Jackson and Matt Flynn. You can now throw third round pick Russell Wilson in the fray. Pete Carroll told the team's website, "He showed us enough. He's in the competition. That is going to tax us, as we know. It was already going to be taxing with two, but he's shown us enough that we need to see where he fits in with these guys."

To the Seahawks credit, they're making every attempt to find the right guy to lead their team. Too often we see teams stick with a starter long after it's apparent to everyone outside of that locker room that the backup is the guy that should be starting on gameday. Still, teams need one starting quarterback, not three, and quarterback controversies often follow on the heels of fierce open competitions.

It would be easy for the Seahawks to pass on allowing Wilson in on the mix, but I would argue that he's actually the most logical guy to win the job. He's fresh out of college, and the Seahawks don't look like a legitimate challenger to the 49ers stranglehold on the NFC West. If there was ever a time to start fresh, it would be right now, and Wilson could be the long-term starter. That being said, selecting Wilson as the starter could be seen as conceding the 2012 season, something no fan wants to see from their own team.

Usually, three horse races don't last long. By the time the preseason actually rolls around, the Seahawks will probably be down to two competitors. Tarvaris Jackson has the most to lose in this situation. It's highly unlikely that the Seahawks would carry 3 quarterbacks on their roster into the regular season, and if Jackson doesn't win the starting job, he would likely be the guy to be cut. Matt Flynn has proven that he's a solid backup option, while Jackson has remained largely inconsistent at best over the course of his career.

And so it's the Seahawks that provide us with one of the greatest spectacles in the NFL offseason, an open quarterback competition.

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Bill Polian will become the 28th member of the Bills organization to be placed on the team's Wall of Fame. Polian was the general manager of the Bills from 1986-1993, overseeing the Bills' best seasons. Polian built a great team in Buffalo based around Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly.

After leaving Buffalo following their 3rd of 4 straight Super Bowl losses in 1993, Polian was hired to take over the Carolina Panthers. Polian once again found success with the Panthers, building a roster that went to the NFC championship game in just the second year of the team's existence.

Following his run with the Panthers, Polian was hired to be the Colts' President and GM. Polian's first pick as the Colts' top man was future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Once again, Polian built a great team using a stellar offense and a top notch quarterback. Under Polian, the Colts were able to win a Super Bowl following the 2006 season. The Colts made it to the Super Bowl following the 2009 season as well, but were unable to win it.

I've been a vocal critic of Polian, especially in recent years. Under his leadership, with help from his son Chris Polian, the Colts slowly declined. Last year was ultimately their undoing in Indianapolis when the Colts lost Peyton Manning for the entire season. The team simply couldn't find a way to be competitive most of the season.

Regardless of his potential shortfalls in his later years as the Colts' GM, Bill Polian has a proven track record of building winning teams that withstand the test of time. It's astounding that his teams only ever were able to win one Super Bowl, but by the same token, he was able to get his team to the big game 6 times over the course of 27 years.

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A report by Pro Football Talk indicates that the Oakland Raiders, along with the St. Louis Rams, should be on the short list of teams that could relocate to Los Angeles. But, as the report points out, there's a perceived catch. Mark Davis may not be allowed to take his team to Southern California.

For a team to relocate, 24 of the 32 owners, or 75%, must vote in favor of a move for a team to be allowed to relocate by the league. According to the report mentioned above, the prevailing opinion is that Mark Davis would not receive enough votes in favor of relocation to move forward with the process.

It's not clear exactly why so many of the other owners don't want Mark Davis moving his team south. Frankly, I'm not sure it's about moving the team at all. Al Davis was a great leader of the Oakland Raiders for decades, but he was also a thorn in the NFL's side for about as long. The other owners may be hoping to use their relocation veto power as leverage to force Davis to sell the team.

Whether there's any interest of selling the Raiders on Davis' end has yet to be seen. Al Davis was a polarizing figure, but he was still an NFL icon. It'd be a shame for someone other than a Davis to own the Raiders. It just wouldn't seem right. As of right now, there's been nothing to indicate that Mark Davis intends on selling the team, and he's made no formal efforts to relocate the team, so it'll likely be months if not years before we find out how much support from the other owners Mark Davis actually has.

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Before today, I truly believed there was some merit to lawsuits against the NFL as a result of head injuries. Maybe there still is, and maybe I'm just being overly pessimistic here, but the end of sanity on Earth has officially arrived.

According to the Detroit News, ex-Lions punter Jim Arnold has joined 25 other former NFL players in suing the league, claiming the NFL covered up the risks associated with concussions for years.

Arnold tole the Detroit News, "I wasn't somebody that was just going to lie down in front of a guy and let him go. I was gong to do whatever it took to help my teammates so it wouldn't be a big return. So I didn't mind sticking my nose in the middle of it."

Good for you Mr. Arnold. You're a member of a rare group of punters and kickers that are willing to sacrifice your body to save your team a touchdown. I truly appreciate your commitment to laying the lumber on any returner audacious enough to try to run one of your kicks back.

Here's my problem. Punters and kickers don't take many hits, and they certainly don't hit many other players. There's a line in the sand of what is feasible, and this just crosses it. Maybe he did suffer brain damage as a result of an on field hit, and maybe he didn't. The problem is there's just no way of knowing. When I was in middle school, I slipped on the ice and hit my head. Following the hit, I didn't remember anything. In fact, when my head finally cleared enough to function normally, I was sitting at my computer playing a video game, and I haven't the slightest idea how I got there. That doesn't mean I'm entitled to some financial compensation.

I truly hope the courts throw out this particular lawsuit. Jim Arnold was a punter that likely took a few tough hits in his career. Everyone takes a rough hit to the head from time to time. Maybe you stand up in your cellar and hit your head, or maybe you're working on your car and bump your head as you lean forward to grap a wrench. Who knows? We all sustain head injuries, and I'm not buying that Arnold deserves compensation. Not all players involved in these lawsuits are seeking an extra payday, but this particular instance smells rotten.

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Plaxico Burress is a tough receiver to defend. He's a big guy with that can play the ball well in the air, and he has solid hands, yet he still hasn't been signed. That won't stop him from trying to get the attention of teams around the league.

His latest effort came in the form of paying Oakland Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer a major compliment, telling SiriusXM NFL Radio, "I've always thought that Carson Palmer has been one of the best deep-ball throwers in all of football since I can remember. They do have some great talent over there in Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy. I think those guys are only going to get better with Carson."

While Burress didn't come straight out and say that he would like to go to Oakland, he did sound like a guy that sees some possibility in going to Northern California. Burress could be an asset in Oakland too. The Raiders could certainly use a veteran receiver in the lineup, but Burress' past may keep him from being signed. Setting aside the incident in which Burress shot himself with a gun he was illegally carrying, Burress is perceived as a player with an attitude. It's possible that no teams want to subject their rosters to a guy with a big ego. That's not saying that Burress couldn't work out well in a place like Oakland, but it's telling that no team has taken the plunge on such a big playmaker.

While Burress waits for the phone to ring, he's likely staying in shape, hoping that his NFL playing days aren't over. He may have to take less money than he would like to get, however. The NFL is a young man's game, and older receivers looking for work don't exactly warrant much interest from teams looking to grow younger and more talented.

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The offseason gives players, coaches, writers, and fans alike an opportunity to step back and look at the big picture in the NFL. Sometimes, players don't step back far enough, and they wind up making statements like the Ravens' star running back, Ray Rice.

In comments published at BaltimoreRavens.com, Rice expressed that he'll not only be ready for the start of the season; he'll be ready to take the Ravens to the promise land.

"Training is something that I never worried about. My training has always been part of my routine. Nobody ever had to beat me in the head to work out. I actually have the burning to desire to come back, not only for myself, but to come back ready to play. When we get to the season, I’m going to do my job and bring a Super Bowl back to Baltimore."

There seems to be little doubt that Rice will be playing for the Ravens in 2012, despite ongoing contract negotiations. He's currently under the team's franchise tag, but he has not signed his franchise tender, choosing instead to workout on his own until contract negotiations are finalized. Still, I have to wonder if he's able to get the same kind of quality workouts on his own that he could be getting at the team's facilities. The threat of injury is also likely to climb without the constant supervision of trained professionals.

Here's my thought. Rice has already given up his leverage in contract negotiations. He's indicated he'll eventually sign, even if it's under the franchise tender. He should just go ahead and sign his one year contract in the hopes that the Ravens and his agent could come to a long-term agreement in the near future. In the meantime, Rice could be on the practice field and in the weight room with his teammates where he belongs. It's impossible to be a team leader from home, and Rice isn't exactly showing his desire to be with the Ravens long-term by working out at home on his own time.

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This offseason has been characterized by quarterback changes. Manning to Denver, Luck drafted by the Colts, Griffin drafted by the Redskins, Tebow vs. Sanchez, Weeden vs. McCoy; they're all great story lines, but they also highlight a growing perception that may just be completely off base. You need a quarterback to win a championship. That's completely true, but you also need a team around him.

Peyton Manning may be the greatest example of why you need a quarterback to win titles, but you also need a team. Manning was able to manufacture one championship with the Colts. Maybe I'm way off base, but a guy that is considered by some to be the greatest quarterback of all time should have more than one ring at this stage in his career. The problem in Indianapolis was never Peyton Manning. He just never had a complete team around him.

Eli Manning is a great example of how a team pulling together is just as good as having a great quarterback in today's NFL. Eli Manning is a very good quarterback, and he's shown time and time again that he can pull through in clutch moments late in the season and in the playoffs. That alone is enough to give any team a chance, but Manning also has solid receivers, a defense that gets after the quarterback, and a head coach that fully believes in what the Giants are doing, even when it's not going great for them.

The big difference between the Manning brothers is that Eli Manning has a pair of championship rings while Peyton Manning only as one. That being the case, Peyton Manning may have hit pay dirt in Denver.

For the first time in his career, Manning will be at the controls of a complete football team. The Broncos have a great defense that can keep them in the game even if the offense isn't scoring. Their offense has a lot of solid pieces as well. In fact, I would argue the only piece that unit was missing last season was a quarterback that could throw the ball around the field. That's something that Tim Tebow didn't do very well, but it's something that Peyton Manning has made a living doing for the past decade and a half.

We all know that a team really does need a solid quarterback to make a deep playoff run in today's NFL, but let's stop putting the wagon before the horse. Football is still a team game, and you absolutely must build a talented team to succeed, even if you have the best quarterback money can buy. So for teams like the Browns, Colts, and Redskins, I hope your plan is more involved than bringing in a new quarterback and hoping he succeeds. If not, you'll be repeating this cycle once again in a few years.

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Does everyone remember when the Metrodome's roof collapsed under the weight of tons of snow? Do you remember the following weeks, when the Vikings were displaced? Now, do you remember how fun it was to watch the Vikings play outside at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium? Get used to that.

According to Pro Football Talk, the Vikings and the University of Minnesota have finalized a deal that would make TCF Bank Stadium the Vikings' official home away from home. The deal is not official just yet, however; to be officially sealed and done, the University president before it is binding.

The deal gives the Vikings a lot of flexibility as their new stadium is being built. The Vikings can lease the stadium for up to 4 consecutive seasons, or as little as part of one NFL season, presumably 2015. The deal comes at a steep price as well. The Vikings will pay $250,000 per game played at the stadium as well as sharing a portion of any concessions sold. The Vikings will also reimburse the university for any changes/additions made to the stadium to accommodate the team.

To say the least, the deal is very intriguing. Usually, a team won't have to play away from home long, if at all, as they build a new stadium. The idea of the Vikings playing at the University of Minnesota for four years sounds more like a protective clause than a realistic estimate. Stadiums simply don't take that long to build. My best guess is that the Vikings will play away from home for a couple of seasons, and in my mind, that's not so bad considering they'll be moving back to a brand new stadium when it's all said and done.

The Vikings, and even the NFL, should be congratulated for their efforts. It appears that the pressure applied by the Vikings finally paid off. They made some monetary concessions to ensure that the team stayed in Minnesota, and it's paid dividends. For the first time in a long time, we can be [relatively] safe in saying that the Vikings will be in Minnesota for years to come.

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Last year, around this time, Da'Quan Bowers slid down the draft board, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers snagged him in the middle of the second round. He slid down the draft board largely as a result of long-term health concerns. This, however, was not the concern.

The Buccaneers announced today that Da'Quan Bowers tore one of his Achilles tendons during the Buccaneers' offseason workout program. It was not announced, and is likely not yet known, whether the tear was a full tear or a partial tear. Despite the lack of knowledge, Bowers believes he'll be playing this season.

2013?? Get real... I'm playing THIS year 2012

— Da'Quan Bowers (@DaQuanBowers91) May 10, 2012

Bowers played in all 16 games last season, although he started off very slow. Bowers recorded just 1.5 sacks last season to go along with his 25 tackles. Michael Bennett will likely step in as the starter if Bowers is unable to be ready by the start of the season which seems likely. While Tampa Bay does have an adequate replacement for Bowers, the injury does leave the Buccaneers thin at defensive end. Even worse, in a pass driven league, it's likely that they don't have enough solid rushers to get consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback, especially late in the game.

While the loss of Bowers may not be debilitating, it's just one more issue that Greg Schiano will have to deal with in his first season. The Buccaneers need all the help that they can get, and this news simply isn't pushing them in the right direction.

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The best of the NFL's best gathered together for one, last, final last game. The ultimate contest of the season, where fans say goodbye to the best and brightest, envy the gorgeous, exotic scenery and big fat coaches wear loud ugly shirts.

The NFL Pro Bowl.

Since 1950, the NFL's best have capped the season with this star-studded exhibition game. For decades, the lure of a fat bonus (and, since 1979, a Hawaiian vacation) drew all the NFL's best to play with each other, have some fun and send off the fans with a fantasy-football style mashup of all their favorite players.

Why does the NFL want to kill it?

Just to make sure I have this straight -- the Pro Bowl is the National Football League's All-Star Game. Arguably the most powerful sports league in the world, it puts on a showcase of its top talent.

The Pro Bowl Is "D.O.A"

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the NFL is likely to shelve the Pro Bowl. Every year, fewer and fewer of the league's marquee players choose to hike out to Hawaii. Every year, the multi-million dollar contracts make those bonuses less and less attractive. Every year, the prospect of injury ruining teams' investments loomed larger.

The tide started to turn against the Pro Bowl when the New England Patriots star rookie tailback, Robert Edwards, destroyed his knee in a pre-Pro Bowl beach football game. Ever since, players and teams alike began turning the intensity way, way down.

This caused its own set of problems. Some players kept going all-out, while others were playing patty cake. The late Redskins safety Sean Taylor dramatically illustrated this during the 2006 Pro Bowl. Bills punter Brian Moorman tried to convert a fake punt, and Taylor realized he could light Moorman up.

That he did.

Moorman, to his credit, took the punishment, bounced right up and congratulated Taylor on his bone-crushing play. But the danger was obvious: When some guys are playing around while others are playing, the potential for injury is much greater.

So, players stopped playing.